Clevis



Nov. 29, 1932. LANGER 1,889,204

CLEVIS Filed Jan. 5. 1931 i? Mi.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPH J. LANGER, OF MON'IICELLO, IOWA,.ASSIGNOR TO FRANKLIN EQUIPMENT 00., OF MONTICELLO, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

CLEVIS Application filed January 5, 1931. Serial No. 506,656.

This invention relates to clevises and more particularly to an adjustable clevis which may e used efficiently for attaching draft chains to plow beams, whippletrees and the like, of varlous sizes.

The most common form of clevis now in use consists of a rigid U-shaped member apertured at the free end of each of the arms, which extend horizontally, and a screw threaded bolt and nut which function to attach the clevis to the beam. In using clevises of the type mentioned, it has been found that the nuts become loosened due to the friction on the bolt in the apertured beam when the U-shaped member is moved from side to side by the draft chain. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that the U-shaped member is rigid and the space between the arms cannot be adjusted to accommodate beams of various sizes. Consequently dealers must carry a stock of assorted sizes because a nonfitting clevis is likely to wear the plow beam or whippletree.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a clevis which is simple in construction, dependable in use, which will not be liable to disengagement from 'its attached parts and which may be adjusted to accommodate beams of different sizes.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a clevis embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the clevis adjusted to fit a relatively thin beam.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clevis adjusted to fit a thicker beam.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, a plow beam or whippletree is indicated at and a draft chain at 11. The clevis consists of two members 12 and 13. The member 12 comprises a horizontally disposed arm 14 adapted to rest against the bottom of the beam 10. The arm 14 terminates in a relatively fiat end 15 which is circular in shape and centrally apertured as indicated at 16. An upright arm 17 rises from the other end of the arm 14 and is screw threaded at its free end as indicated at 18. The length of the upright rod 17 is such that it will extend through the beam 10 and protrude beyond the top surface of said beam.

The other member 13 of the clevis comprises a horizontally disposed arm 19 which is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the beam 10. The arm 19 terminates in an end 20 circular in shape and centrally apertured at 21. At its opposite end the arm 19 curves downwardly, forming an attaching hook member 22, bent inwardly at 23 and terminates in a vertically disposed end 24. 7

To attach the clevis members to a beam 10, the upright rod 17 is passed through the aperture of the beam and the arm 14 is made to bear against the under surface of the beam 10. Then the member 13 is placed into position by inserting the end 24 into the aperture 16 and by placing the end 20 over the screw threaded end 18 with the arm 19 resting on top of the beam 10. A nut 25 is then screwed on the end 18 as shown in Fig. 2.

The clevis may be moved pivotally about the axis of the rod 17 without danger of loosening the nut 25 and the lengths of the end 24 of the member 13 and of the rod 17 of the member 12 are such that the clevis will accommodate beams of standard sizes.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described except as set forth in the appended claim; for example, the two L-shaped members which constitute the clevis may be secured together in adjusted position on a beam by means other than the screw threaded end 18 and nut 25 herein shown. The end 18 could be drilled through, in a plurality of places, and a cotter pin could be inserted through one of the holes to retain the member 13 in desired adjusted position on the beam relative to the member 12.

I claim:

In combination with a vertically bored beam, a clevis comprising an L-shaped member having a vertically disposed, pivotal arm extending upwardly through the apertured beam, and a horizontally disposed arm parallel with and adjacent to the under surface of the beam, the vertical arm having a screw i 2 V i 1,889,204

threaded upper end and the horizontally disposed arm being flattened and apertured at its free end, a second substantially L-shaped member consisting of an apertured, flat ended, horizontally disposed arm and a curved downwardly directed arm terminating in a vertical extension, the latter extending loosely through the aperture of the horizontal arm of the first mentioned member, the apertured arm of the second member resting on top of the apertured beam and loosely engaging the screw threaded end of the Vertical arm of the first member, and a nut on the screw threaded end for holding the two L-shaped members together, whereby the two rigid members comprising the clevis may be adjusted and secured at a single point to accommodate beams of varying thicknesses.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature, this 31 day of Dec., 1930.

- 1 RUDOLPH J. LANGER. 

